Drassodella transversa, Mbo & Haddad, 2019

Mbo, Zingisile & Haddad, Charles R., 2019, A revision of the endemic South African long-jawed ground spider genus Drassodella Hewitt, 1916 (Araneae: Gallieniellidae), Zootaxa 4582 (1), pp. 1-62 : 34-36

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.11646/zootaxa.4582.1.1
publication LSID	lsid:zoobank.org:pub:9DC61794-4BD7-4F6D-BB8C-84D9855C8151
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/B74F87AB-9E40-4002-53B3-CC80663698CE
treatment provided by	Plazi
scientific name	Drassodella transversa
status	sp. nov.

Treatment

Drassodella transversa View in CoL sp. nov.

Figs 7 View FIGURES 5–17 , 68 View FIGURES 60–77 , 84 View FIGURES 78–92 , 107, 108 View FIGURES 93–110 , 146–150 View FIGURES 146–150

Etymology. This species is named for the transverse markings on the dorsal surface of abdomen.

Diagnosis. Females of D. transversa sp. nov. are most similar to those of D. guttata sp. nov., but can be distinguished by the nearly semicircular anterior hood with a straight posterior margin, while almost parallel-sided with a slightly concave posterior margin in D. guttata sp. nov.. Further, the anterior margin of the ST II is much closer to the posterior margin of the anterior hood in D. transversa sp. nov. than in D. guttata sp. nov. (compare Figs 68 and 61 View FIGURES 60–77 ). Males of D. transversa sp. nov. share with D. tenebrosa the presence of a single prong at the base of the embolus, but have white abdominal spots (absent in D. tenebrosa ), a longer RTA that passes the retrolateral heel of the cymbium (not reaching the cymbium in D. tenebrosa ), and a nearly straight as opposed to slightly curved median apophysis (compare Fig. 149 View FIGURES 146–150 with Fig. 138 View FIGURES 136–139 ).

Description. Female (Holotype, Bourke’s Luck, CASENT 9072377). Measurements: CL 2.32, CW 1.82, AL 4.23, AW 1.88, TL 6.88 (5.96–6.88), FL 0.37, SL 1.28, SW 1.08, CH 0.06, AME-AME 0.10, AME-ALE 0.03, ALE-ALE 0.31, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.12, PLE-PLE 0.45, PERW 0.52, MOQAW 0.17, MOQPW 0.22, MOQL 0.25.

Length of leg segments: I 1.54 + 0.90 + 1.30 + 1.12 + 0.94 = 5.80, II 1.52 + 0.78 + 1.06 + 1.06 + 0.90 = 5.32,

III 1.36 + 0.72 + 0.90 + 1.18 + 0.84 = 5.00, IV 2.12 + 0.96 + 1.64 + 2.04 + 1.00 = 7.76.

General appearance as in Fig. 107 View FIGURES 93–110 . Carapace dark brown, with radiating black mottling; white feathery setae scattered; faint upsilon marking of white setae, erect setae on sloping surface. Clypeus height equal to 0.75 times AME diameter; AME equal to ALE; AME separated by distance equal to 1.25 their diameter, AME separated from ALE by distance equal to 0.38 AME diameter; PME smaller than PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 1.67 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance twice PME diameter. Chelicerae brown anteriorly, orange posteriorly; promargin with three evenly spaced teeth, proximal tooth largest, median tooth smallest; retromargin with two teeth, proximal tooth larger than distal tooth. Endites orange-yellow, pale at maxillar hair tuft. Labium orange-yellow, as long as broad. Sternum orange-brown; few setae medially, more concentrated around margins. Legs uniformly brown; anterior legs with white feathery setae on tibia. Leg spination: femora: I do 1 rl 1, II do 2, III do 2, IV do 2; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, III pl 3 do 2 rl 3 plv 3 rlv 3 vt 2, IV pl 3 do 2 rl 3 plv 3 rlv 3 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 3; patellae do 1 rl 1; tibiae pl 2 do 2 rl 4; tarsi pl 2 do 1 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 1. Abdomen black, with many scattered white setae, six white spots of feathery setae, white spot of feathery setae above anal tubercle ( Fig. 107 View FIGURES 93–110 ); two sigilla present on anterior margin; lateral sclerites above booklungs very small; venter light brown, with two rows of tiny sclerites from epigastric furrow to spinnerets; small ante- and post-epigastric sclerites present. Spinnerets cream. Epigyne with deep, semicircular anterior hood, anterior margin strongly convex, posterior margin straight, lateral ends terminating in sharp point; lateral hoods curved, close to copulatory openings; ST I, ST II and connecting ducts dark yellow-brown; ST I and II similar in size, ST II elongate, parallel-sided, with rounded head ( Figs 68 View FIGURES 60–77 , 146, 147 View FIGURES 146–150 ).

Male (Paratype, Dullstroom, Groblers farm, NCA 2010 /270). Measurements: CL 2.56, CW 1.80, AL 2.68, AW 1.32, TL 5.56, FL 0.27, SL 1.25, SW 1.10, CH 0.14, AME-AME 0.06, AME-ALE 0.02, ALE-ALE 0.24, PME-PME 0.10, PME-PLE 0.11, PLE-PLE 0.47, PERW 0.57, MOQAW 0.21, MOQPW 0.24, MOQL 0.29.

Length of leg segments: I 2.00 + 0.92 + 1.64 + 1.40 + 0.96 = 6.92, II 1.68 + 0.76 + 1.30 + 1.32 + 0.98 = 6.04, III 1.52 + 0.72 + 1.12 + 1.38 + 0.96 = 5.70, IV 2.28 + 0.76 + 2.48 + 1.60 + 1.16 = 8.28.

General appearance as in Fig. 108 View FIGURES 93–110 . Carapace red-brown, with radiating black mottling; surface smooth, with sparse feathery setae. Clypeus height equal to 1.43 times AME diameter; AME smaller than ALE; AME separated by distance slightly smaller than their diameter, AME almost touching ALE; PME equal to PLE; PME separated by distance equal to 1.16 their diameter, PME separated from PLE by distance equal to 1.33 PME diameter. Chelicerae red-brown, red at base; promargin with three teeth, median tooth largest, teeth on either side equal in size; retromargin with three widely separated teeth, proximal tooth largest, distal tooth smallest. Endites brown, pale at maxillar hair tuft. Labium as long as broad; brown on anterior margin, dark brown medially, black on posterior lateral margin. Sternum brown. Legs orange-brown; leg I with dense white feathery setae medially on tibia. Leg spination: femora: I do 2 rl 1, II do 3, III do 6, IV do 4; patellae: spineless; tibiae: I & II spineless, III pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 2 do 2 rl 2 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; metatarsi: I & II spineless, III pl 4 do 1 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2, IV pl 4 do 1 rl 4 plv 2 rlv 2 vt 2; palpal spination: femora do 3; patellae do 1; tibiae spineless, tarsi do 1. Abdomen black; two pairs of dorso-lateral white spots present, second pair connected by a transverse white line ( Fig. 108 View FIGURES 93–110 ); additional pair of large lateral markings, first behind booklungs, second posteriorly; dorsal scutum extending to third abdomen length; white setae on anal tubercle; oval sclerites on lateral side above booklungs; venter cream; small ante-epigastric sclerites and very broad post-epigastric sclerites present; two rows of tiny sclerites extending from booklungs to spinnerets. Spinnerets cream. Palp orange; RTA moderately long, largely obscured in ventral view by retrolateral heel of cymbium; in retrolateral view triangular, with broad base and sharp tip; cymbium quite narrow, 1.9 times longer than wide, narrowed to rounded point distally; single embolic prong present, narrow, curving mesally towards palpal axis; median apophysis short, stout, peg-shaped ( Figs 84 View FIGURES 78–92 , 148–150 View FIGURES 146–150 ).

Type material. Holotype ♀: SOUTH AFRICA: Mpumalanga Province: Blyde River Canyon, Bourke’s Luck Potholes , 24°40'S, 30°48'E, 23–25.XII.1990, leg. V.D. Roth & B. Roth ( CAS, CASENT 9072377 ). GoogleMaps

Paratypes: SOUTH AFRICA: Mpumalanga Province: Dullstroom, Groblers Farm , 25°29'S, 30°05'E, 25– 28.I.2009, leg. L. Makaka (pitfalls) GoogleMaps , 1♂ ( NCA 2010/270); Mariepskop State Forest, Drakensberg , 23°35.060'S, 30°51.810'E, 1350 m a.s.l., 13.X.1999, leg. D. Ubick & S. Prinsloo GoogleMaps , 2♀, together with non-type 1 sub-adult ♀ 1 imm. ( CAS, CASENT 9 072379), 1♀, together with non-type 1 imm. ( CAS, CASENT 9 072381) .